Internal-combustion engine



June zo, 195o M. `BRIGAUDET INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE 2 Sheets-Shee 1 Filed June 20, 1947 [zweldvr y, mma' ,5mm/0U ,91.9 Arr)l June 20, 1950 M. BRIGAUDET y 2,512,255

1NTERNALcoMBUsT1oN ENGINE Filed June 20, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "Inventor ffm/:ca BR/@ A fof r 67 @daf-M Patented June 20, 1950 INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE v Marcel Brigaudet, Annecy, France Application June 20, 1947, Serial No. 755,910 In France July 2, 1946 1 Claim. (Cl. 12S-43) My invention has for its object a novel type of of a high cost price and of Aa comparatively low reliability and requiring constant -upkeep and submitted to a rapid wear.

My improved engine is characterized by the fact that it includes an even number of groups of cylinders that are associated two by two and form with one another a suitable angle preferably of 90, said cylinder groups substantially touching one another through their base circumference, said groups are constituted by cylindrical elements rotating inside a crank case holding themA and are provided with a plurality of cylindrical recesses with parallel axes uniformly distributed round the axis of the group.

The corresponding cylinders of each of the two associated groups receive rigid pistons forming'4 with one another an angle equal to that formed rbetween said groups of cylinders and ensure their synchronous rotation by playing with reference thereto the part of connecting rods and cranks.

This synchronous rotation corresponds to a tacking or shuilling movement of the pistons in the cylinders inside which they dene variable volume chambers that are used for ensuring the desired operating driving cycles which may be two-stroke according to the distribution system adopted.

The synchronous rotary movement of these cylinder groups round the corresponding axes as due to the driving stress is then made use of by inserting an output shaft along the axis of one of them while an auxiliary movement transmission member is possibly provided on the other group.

In the case of a two-stroke cycle, the distribution may be ensured through a system of ports- `Substantial reduction in the ratio between weight and useful power,

Simplification in execution,

Increase in the coefficient of safety through the omission of brittle parts and 'a reduction in the number of pivots,

Better and easier balancing of the moving members, the reciprocating movements being entirely and perfectly'compensated,

More regular driving couple by reason of the number of cylinders,

Reduction in bulk,

Reduction in cost price.

My invention will be properly understood by referring to accompanying diagrammatic drawings given solely by way of examples and illustrating an application of my invention to a twostroke engine formedby a single system of a pair of cylinder groups associated with one another.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 in an elevational cross-sectional view through line I-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in horizontal'sectional view of the same engine through line II--II of Fig. 1.

In the case illustrated the'engine includes two groups I and I', the group I performing the preliminary compression while the group I forms the power group.

Each group Ashows substantially:

A stationary external cylindrical crank case I I provided with cooling fins,

A cylinder block 2-2 adapted to rotate inside said casing and provided with one or more cylindrical bores 3 and'3' the number of which is four for each group in the case illustrated,

Rigid double pistons the elementary pistons being shown respectively at 'I and 1'.

The crankcase of the power group I' shows at 4 the location of the sparking plug, a single sparking plug being required forthe whole system, each cylinder showing at the desired moment (position D) in front of said vlocation an ignition port I3.

Furthermore, the crankcases I and I are angularly shifted with reference to one another so as to form an angle of in the case illustrated, said crankcases being in contact relationship through the adjacent parts of the base circumferences of the cylinders. Said crankcases are connected together through a tubular member 5.

The pistons of each double piston system 1 1' are obviously at right angles with reference to one another.

The two cylinder blocks 2 and 2 show a central blind hole, the blind holes of each cylinder block double pistons are thus all theamore lc'leeply :en-

gaged inside their cylinders when they are nearer the point of contact between the cylinders -ofthe two groups and the variable volumes thus deiined sbetweenlthe head of tlieffpistons and the cooperatinlg covers of the cylinders `ypass foreach revolution tlirougha' maximum :and -a minimum .corresponding to 'the v,passage in the `plane-.conn

taining the faxes of\the=-tw0 `cylinder blocks.

Conversely, it will be immediately apparent that the Vcylindervbloclnsirriay.rotate round their `whilee.rem-airiingfin* contact .and @that -anyexm panding force appliedato=a ,piston head at vthe v,moment -at which the variable `izolunie ,.is a

minimum will urge said piston ,away from -the bottom of such cylinder. 'Ilhelpistonwi'll :then behave after the manner of`-a,connecting 4rod inside l 'the .drivingcylinder fand -fast- .an v Aoperative crank inthe-corresponding cylinder `of the `other 4.cylinder block. v'lhe latter 'will thus rbe sub- Jmitted -to astress tangentialfto `the Acircumfer- --.ence rdescribed .by ivthe centre .-of vthe cylinder .round the .axis-of :the icylindertblock. The `consequent movement will thereiorebe arotation-f` of .the Acylinder block` ,round itsiaxis.

The movement of thelpistonwill .therefore vbe ,a y.tacking =or reciprocating .movement y fwhichais a monsequenoe of :the cooperation V.oi- `their reciprocating and rotary movements.

1Obviously,-,if .through lsuitable .timing Yerneans .the .cycle of operation 'of an .internal combustion .'.enginelisapplied yto -.eaoh variable -volu1ne-charn ber there is obtained a power-system 4.thatreplaces to advantage .the .poly-.cylindricalengines Anow `=inuse.

In the case of the'two-strokeenginedllustratcd in A,the drawings, the fcycle A'is performed as 4:follows:

The `gsuction is executed through ,the ports --8 and 9 into1.the..cylinder.of thepreliminary-compression group which ais .then rrat *its .lower 1 dead point (position AL `.The -compression -of 1-,the mixture thus Yadmitted is executed Iinside the same cylinder yuntil y.the pistonwenters fits outer fdeadpoint (position LB). .Lhe-,uncovering-iof kvthe i ,ports all) and H through registering thereof .is -then 4provided -thecompressed A.iriirdure jected under pressure through the central stationary tube 6 and iiows through ports IB' and li' that are in register into the power cylinder that is then at its lower dead point (position C). This compressed mixture is then finally compressed until the upper dead point is reached zas lillustrated at D. #ignition is then produced fand the expansion of *th'egases produces then the driving stroke with a return into the position C #for which the exhaust is produced through the registering `ports 9', 8.

The angular setting and the size of the ports v.considered should obviously be suitably defined in the same manner as for any other engine.

"The iirivirrg 'shaft l2 is axially located with 'reference to one of the cylinder blocks and is rigid therewith. In the case illustrated, said driving shaft is rigid with the preliminary coin- ,pressioncylinder ,block l..

Lastly ias obvious .and Vas apparent from the Ipreceding ...disclosure .my invention .is by .no means ilimitedAto-.the Ysole .form .o Aexecution .dis- `closed .hereinabove .in a diagrammatic .manner and it .covers onrthe ycontrary all .the modifica- .tions of .execution ,and all rapplications ...fall- -.ing within .the scope :of `.the .accompanying claim.

Whatl .claim is: An .internal combustion engine including .a

craniscase provided with .an .even Anumber ofcooperating rotary .circular surfaces forming with `one .another @predetermined constant angle and tonne anothen.thepiston elements .of one group ibeing rigid with Athepiston.elements'of the other associated .group and .-bein-g adapted ytol assume fa movement =cof cylinder elements lof ,-two `.same groups round the two axes considered while-.re-

-.maining constantly-in a-p1ane-parallel with "the planeidened by saidaxes, l and ia-stationary toentral since-shaped injector tube 'connection 1be- Itween the -cempressor fcylinder group and the `explosionclnambeivof the-.motorcylinder group.

MARCEL BRIGAUDET.

,REFERENCES CITED The following references are of :record in Zthe tle 7,of this patent:

FOREIGN PTENTS Number Countr-.y Date A2,914: GreatBritain LFeh. 4, .1914 453,894 Greatritain Sept. .21, .1936 557,336 .GreatfBritain Nov. .-2, .19.43 

